A small plane with six people on board nosedived into the sea shortly after takeoff on Sunday in yet another American aviation disaster, with officials confirming that the crash resulted in the tragic death of everyone aboard.
The doomed twin-engine Cessna 414 met its tragic end at approximately 12.30pm on Sunday near San Diego, just three miles west of Point Loma. The FAA has confirmed the deaths of all six passengers, though their identities are yet to be released
Harrowing audio from air traffic control, shared by CBS 8, captured the pilot’s desperate plea for higher altitude immediately after leaving San Diego International Airport. The aircraft barely managed to reach 1000ft during its doomed ascent, with the pilot uttering “mayday” over the radio before falling silent.
Coast Guard teams swiftly located a debris field around five miles from the coast of San Diego’s Point Loma area on Sunday. According to the Associated Press, the ocean depth at the crash site is estimated to be around 200 feet.
Following the disaster, the Coast Guard launched a major search and rescue operation on X, deploying a Jayhawk helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft, a cutter, and two smaller boats, continuing their search until dusk.
“We’ve located a debris field, but I don’t have details on its size yet,” Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves told NBC 7 shortly before 3.30pm on Sunday.
One beachgoer told NBC 7 about the chilling sight of an aircraft sharply plunging, re-entering the cloud layer, before diving again and crashing into the sea.
“The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water. But after I saw this splash, about six seconds later, it was dead silent. I knew that they went in the water, nose first, at a high speed,” Tyson Wislofsky reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the downed plane is on its registry to Optimal Health Systems, known for manufacturing dietary and nutritional aids. However, the Pima, Arizona-based entity insisted it had parted with the plane last year, hinting at an oversight in the FAA’s records.
Doug Grant, the founder of Optimal Health Systems, shared his grief, acknowledging he was familiar with several passengers: “We personally know several of the passengers onboard, and our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy, all of whom are incredible members of our small community.”